FORT PIERCE, Fla. —

The whistleblower credited with initiating the state investigation that led to the arrest of the Fort Pierce city manager is now telling his story only to WPBF 25 News.

The first few words of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s case summary said their investigation began because of “a letter from a concerned citizen named Mario Wilcox.”

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“I told them my genuine concern for St. Lucie County, for Fort Pierce, and the impoverished area,” Wilcox told WPBF 25 News.

Wilcox said it was easy to see something was wrong during a 2020 bidding process to lease two city-owned properties.

City Manager Nicholas Mimms is charged with tampering with that process to make sure two city employees, including his niece, won the bid.

“What’s on the table is a conflict of interest,” Wilcox said. “Instead of them following the rules and regulations, they went underground.”

Wilcox said he repeatedly went to city officials during the process to warn them what was happening.

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He said his warnings were met with mocks and threats.

“Because more corruption and improprieties were being committed,” Wilcox said. “And I was like, ‘Look, you think no sees this, but I see this.’”

Eventually, FDLE got involved and began an investigation that led to the arrest of Mimms.

Wilcox said he now feels...

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